THE MATAURA'S CARGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 5

THE MATAURA'S CARGO.

WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE. The New Zealand Shipping Co. (Limited) have received the following report from London, dated 28th September: — "Half Ma taura's meat bad. Chamber examined, and found perfect. Propertemperaturemaintained throughout the passage. Experts' opinion the loss, arises from condition prior to shipment, thecarcasesbeing insufficiently cooled." Thiß conclusion, however, cannot be absolutely adopted without further inquiry, and indeed, it is quite possible that more or less donbt will always attach to the point of what has caused the loss. There are many things, which occur to us in connection with the freezing and BhippiDg of the Mataura's cargo as fraught with danger, and which might have been causes of damage. We believe that in no case should the freezing tak« place on board the ship. It is obvious that this lengthens out the process and materially increases the danger. The freezing is done in small batches, and the doors of the chambers and the hold are continually being opened and shut. The Mataura was also under a special disadvantage in being 120 days at sea. The telegram given above states that the "proper temperature was maintained throughout the passage." This may be so, but it is obvious that a captain on starting from Auckland is not likely to expect to be 120 days at sea, and there is a risk, when he finds himself a long . time at sea, that he will allow the temperature to rise to an undue height. It is probable, we believe, that there will be no further shipments from Auckland until the Freezing Company's plant is in operation, when the freezing can be properly conducted on shore, and the vessel loaded rapidly and continuously. Indeed, for this trade, steamers will always have the preference, and possibly may exclusively conduct it. It would be seen by an article in our yesterday's impression, that the failure of the Mataura's cargo has caused something like a sensation in the South, and that various reasons are assigned. As for the leaving of the kidneys, it was not thought here that these were any detriment till Mr. Brydone, manager of a company iu the South which has sent away a large quantity of frozen mutton, came to Auckland on a visit. That was while the Mataura was taking in her cargo, and after he had stated that the kidneys were mpre dangerous than other portions, they were removed. As for the ► hipping in wooden boxes, which is thought to be very objectionable, that was done only i with a few of the carcases as an experiment. Mr. Joseph Banks, under whose superintendence the fretzing was carried on here,, is now in London, and if he has concurred in the opinion as to the cause of the loss which is expressed in the telegram, then the evidence for it must have been strong.